ALTOONA (AP) - The Akron Aeros scored six runs in the first inning and held off an Altoona rally to beat the Curve 11-6 in Game 3 of the Eastern League Southern Division playoffs Friday night.

Akron, which took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series, built its cushion to 8-0 by the fifth inning. Altoona surged back with six runs in the fifth. Reliever Jose Vargas struck out Brett Roneberg and Jose Castillo to end the inning.

Vargas was credited with the win. Akron starter Kyle Denney gave up five runs over 4 1-3 innings.

Altoona starter John VanBenschoten failed to make it out of the first inning, giving up six runs on six hits.

Ryan Church had a three-run double to start Akron's scoring, and Victor Valencia added a two-run double later in the frame. Tyler Minges homered for Akron in the fifth.